Dive Bombers

[Midnight Mover]

Dive Bombers

June 6, 2015

10am–12 noon

Museum members free / general admission $ 11.00

Planes of Fame Air Museum
7000 Merrill Avenue, #17
Chino, CA  91710

www.planesoffame.org
www.facebook.com/events/1676224535934564

Open to the public, Planes of Fame Air Museum (Chino, CA) presents its monthly Living History Event. The topic for the June 6 event is 'Dive Bombers', featuring the Douglas SBD Dauntless. Staff Sergeant Sidney H. Zimman, USMC, and Harlan W. Foote, Commander USN (Ret.) will be our guest speakers during this event, followed by a question & answer period and flight demonstration when possible. The SBD Dauntless will be on display and perform a flight demonstration. At 12:00 noon, the Membership Sponsored raffle flight will occur in the featured aircraft if possible. Become a member to enter the raffle. All members are eligible to enter the raffle, but you must be present to win.

WHO: Staff Sergeant Sidney H. Zimman, USMC, will be one of our guest speakers for this event. On May 18, 1942, Sidney H. Zimman enlisted in the Marine Corps in Detroit, Michigan. Soon after he was sent to San Diego for boot camp. In July 1942, he was sent to Jacksonville, FL for Radio and Gunnery School. He was assigned to the newly formed dive bomber squadron, VMSB-341. Sidney eventually became a Staff Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps and fought in the South Pacific, including the Air Battle over Rabaul. He was an SBD Dauntless dive bomber gunner who flew 40 combat missions. For his service, he was awarded the Air Crewman Wings with 3 stars, WWII Victory Medal, Asian Pacific Theater Medal with 2 stars, American Campaign Medal, Marine Good Conduct Medal, 2 Presidential Unit Citation ribbons, Air Medal with 5 stars, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Our second guest speaker is Harlan W. Foote: Commander, USN (Ret.) Born in Winthrop, Iowa in 1922. Harlan starting his flight training in 1942 at Los Alamitos for his flying career with US Navy. He flew "Dive (later called Attack) Bombers" from carrier decks; trained in torpedo bombers, but only dropped concrete practice bombs in Monterey Bay; flew 50 different models of aircraft; made 560 carrier landings, 100 were night landings; received the Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with four gold stars, and Presidential Unit Citation. Cmdr. Foote servedwith distinction for 36 years, ten months and 23 days in the U.S. Navy.

Kevin Thompson (POF Moderator and Aviation Historian) and Edward Maloney (Museum Founder & Curator, and Aviation Historian) moderate and join in the presentation.

WHEN: Saturday, June 6, 2015, 10am–12 noon: Speaker program & flight demonstration. Museum doors open at 9:00am.

WHERE: Planes of Fame Air Museum, 7000 Merrill Avenue #17, Chino, CA 91710

WHY: It is the Mission of Planes of Fame Air Museum to preserve aviation history, inspire interest in aviation, educate the public, and honor aviation pioneers and veterans. The Museum sponsors regular events in the form of inspirational experiences, educational presentations, flight demonstrations, and airshows in fulfillment of this mission. Planes of Fame Air Museum, 'Where Warbirds Fly and Aviation History Lives'.